Too large or not good-looking enough to make it?
Pop Music, or Music, in general, has always been an image-led business. However, the industry's move to sexualize the business even further from what it was has raised the eyebrows of even the most liberal person.
The Sex sells mantra seems to be the force behind the marketing of music in regards to reaching the charts these days.
Don't get me wrong, but since the 1960s, sexual overtones have always played a part in the music scene.
Who can forget the sexual overtones and imagery within songs like "Love to Love You, Baby - by Donna Summer (1975), "Wet Dream" by Max Romeo (1969), and Pillow Talk by Sylvia Robinson (1974)?
For those of you who like to "ROCK". I and many others witnessed the video and heard the songs themselves such as "Gimmie All Your Lovin" by ZZ Top(1983) and the track and the track called Simply Irresistible by Robert Palmer (1988)
However, it's within the Hop and Rnb music world that it seems that they have taken over the flame and carried it to a new level.
Videos of half-naked women and on some occasions men are now the norm within the scene, and in the music industry, in general, these days.
And with the dance craze (If I can call it that) called "Twerking" now becoming the norm the trend doesn't seem for now to be reversing.
Not all of the videos and songs out there are highly sexualized but a high percentage of them are.
It seems as if imagery or sexual references or both together have now become more important than the song itself. One ability to perform or to sing (Or both) is not as important.
However, is it the fault of the Modern-day Pop video? Well, let's see. We have to go back to before the WORLD got introduced to the company of MTV (1981).
(Below is the first ad that was played after the 1st song played on MTV - DATE BEING - 1st August 1981 - The 1 St song played on MTV was - The Buggles - "Video Killed the Radio Star" - 1981)
Before that time the way that you got to hear your favorite tunes or songs or new songs was either by; listening to your favorite specialized Radio show or a Pirate Radio show.
Or by going to your local disco or going out of town to a much larger music event. Whereby you were dependent on the resistant DJ supplying you with these tunes.
However, times have changed it appears as you know have looked like a model, but it doesn't mean that you still have some talent. But the image is king. Or so it appears to be so.
Some of the world's most attractive people are working within this industry and seemingly getting an easier passage to the charts than someone who looks ordinary. (If that is the correct phrase to use).
The beautiful people have not had it all their way though. For instance, within the world of Soul and R&B music, these two people bucked the trend.
The 1st Person that I am going to tell you about is the one and Only - Barry White.
Known to the world by his nickname the "Walrus of Love".This was due to his music centralizing around the emotion that is "Love".
Also added to this was his unusually deep voice when it comes to Soul and R&B music. Even though he was born in Galveston, Texas it is within the City of Los Angeles, USA where they claim him as their own.
He had one of the most recognizable voices in the music industry let alone Soul and R&B Music. This voice of his made him instantly recognizable all over the world.
Let alone his music. However, Barry had a weight problem. Throughout his lifetime, Barry always struggled to control his weight. However, this would not be a conversation starter when discussing Barry. His voice and music always were.
Another person that I would like to mention in this article would be Luther Vandross.
Luther is another Soul and R&B music legend. And one that the people of New York City, USA where he was from holding him dear to their hearts.
However, where Barry is renowned for his deep baritone voice, Luther is the complete opposite. He is renowned for his deep super silky voice/ I myself liken him to the Soul and R&B vocalists such as Smokey Robinson, Ron Banks, or Marvin Gaye of the 1960s and 1970s.
In my opinion, he is my generation's (the 1980s) version of those vocalists that I mentioned above. Luther himself wasn't a bad-looking fellow (IF I CAN SAY THAT !). However, he was dogged as well by weight problems, and weight fluctuations throughout his life.
At times all of us witnessed that Luther had lost 3 to 4 stones. Then just as quickly he had taken off the weight, he seemed to have regained it in no time whatsoever.
But for us the fans we never saw the weight. All we were interested in was the music and the news of any new music from the master. Also, all of us were enthralled by that voice of his. And what a voice it was.
These two artists I have mentioned crossed all musical barriers. Even staunch fans of music styles such as Heavy Metal or even Opera love these two artists. Even though they might not openly admit it.
Having to have model-like looks and at the same time, an athletic tone to one's self should not be the end-all and be-all for a career within the music industry.
You should be able to sing (reasonably well) if you are a vocalist and perform on stage to a reasonable standard (Play your instruments well).
I miss Radio dominance within the music world in a way from the past. People's view on the music scene was judged by how well the music that they listened to sounded.
I say this as a few people with that I have recently discussed this same subject personally via face-to-face conversation or via e-mails have stated the same thing.
Some have mentioned the fact that being classed overweight by the powers that be within the music industry has prejudiced them from attaining any musical success at all.
Weight or good looks should never be a determining factor when being judged if you are good enough to have a career within the music industry. It should surely be based on how well you sing and perform the song. Surely?
Probably one of the most recent days examples of this was when Susan Boyle auditioned for the UK TALENT contest known as Britain's Got Talent.
The panel that was to judge her consisted of - Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, and Piers Morgan on the 11th of April 2014.
The rest is history as this has gone down as one of the most astonishing debuts ever seen on UK television. Please click on the link below to witness what happened that day.
(Please click on the YouTube Video below to see the performance again)
As you all noticed that even before Susan Boyle sang she wasn't given hope just based on her appearance and her looks.
However, she stunned them all that day with her stunning performance and her wonderful voice.
As mentioned above within this article I still hope for a return to the old days whereby Specialist Radio shows, Themed Night clubs, and Specialist Records stores were where you were going to hear different-sounding music.
And more importantly, then judge a single or a piece of music, on its sounds, and how it makes you feel.
We can't look like Beyonce Knowles or Rihanna Fenty but we can all move past judging people on how we look. Can't we?
Well, that's all folks for anyway.
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Dj Mistri and the Electric Soul Show © www.electricsoulshow.com
